'Organising to win' is a podcast about workplace union organising featuring information, interviews, case studies and tips on how to build effective trade union organisation at workplace level. Music by Podington Bear, used under a creative commons license.
Episode 22: December 2019
In the third in our 'The Future Is Now' series, celebrating the TUC's Year of the Young Worker, Joanne Findlay speaks to young member Ellie Drake about her experience of visiting Cuba, the importance of international solidarity and transferable lessons for our work in the United Kingdom.
Resources: Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Episode 21: September 2019
In the second of our young workers 'The Future is Now' series, Lyndsey Marchant interviews UNISON representative, nurse and young member Ian Mooney
Resources: UNISON Save the NHS Bursary Campaign | UNISON Young Members' Forum
Episode 20: August 2019
In our August edition, James Bull speaks to TUC digital expert Anthony Hayes, and in our first special edition in honour of the 'Year of the Young Worker, Jack, Sam and Joel from the UNISON North West Young Members' Forum talk about what inspired them to get more involved in UNISON, what they get out of being involved and active in a trade union and how that ties in with their political beliefs and values.
Resources: TUC Megaphone Organising Tool | UNISON Young Members' Forum
Episode 19: March 2019
Featuring interviews with Dr. Sundari Anitha and Dr. Ruth Pearson on their book 'Striking Women, struggles and strategies of South Asian women workers from Grunwick to Gate Gourmet' and David Arnold of Unions21 about his thoughts on how we can revitalise the British Trade Union Movement. Plus clips from strike rallies in support of Alternative Futures Group care workers, who are taking action in protest against cuts to their wages. Theme music by Podington Bear used under a creative commons license.
Resources: Striking Women (book link) | Change for the better - discussion paper by David Arnold of Unions21 | AFG Dispute - Care at night, pay us right!
Episode 18: November 2018
Featuring interviews with Ralph Darlington, Professor of Industrial Relations at Salford University Business School, who discusses an alternative view of the TUC's history, and CJ Grimes, digital campaign expert and architect of the US Fightfor$15 campaign. Music by Podington Bear used with a creative commons license. Presented by James Bull
Resources: Professor Ralph Darlington Profile | Fight for $15 campaign
Episode 17: October 2018
This month, James Bull speaks to 'We Own It' founder Cat Hobbs about privatisation and public ownership, UNISON Knowsley Branch activists Paula Carlysle and James Robinson about their successful campaign to prevent the outsourcing of social care services, and we hear from the pickets at Bolton Hospital where domestics, porters, catering and maintenance staff have won their campaign for NHS pay and conditions.
Resources: We Own It | Bolton IFM Victory| Knowsley UNISON
Episode 16: July 2018
In our July 2018 edition of Organising to Win, we speak to workers involved in the victorious campaign to stop the privatisation of 900 NHS jobs in Wigan about their experience of taking industrial action and winning. Also in the 150th year since the TUC was founded, we interview TUC NW Regional Secretary Lynn Collins, TUC Deputy General Secretary Paul Nowak, and UNISON Assistant General Secretary Roger Mckenzie about how the trade union movement is marking this and other important anniversaries this year.
Resources: Wigan Workers' Victory Against NHS Privatisation Plans | TUC 150th Anniversary Website
Episode 15: April 2018
Resources: University and College Union Pensions Campaign
Episode 14: February 2018
Featuring interviews with American union organiser Jono Shaffer and UNISON Stockport Local Government Branch environmental representative Don Naylor. UNISON NW Regional Secretary Kevan Nelson also reflects on the organising successes of 2017, and looks ahead to the challenges which may come our way this year. Music by Podington Bear used under a creative commons license.
Resources: Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group | Fix LA | Bargaining for the Common Good Case Study | Skills for Strength 2018
Episode 13: July 2017
In our July episode, we consider how trade unions can tackle the issue of disruptive technology, artificial intelligence and the 'digitisation' and fragmentation of jobs using online platforms. James Bull speaks to Nigel Flanagan of UNIGlobal and Sarah Glenister of the Institute of Employment Rights. Music by Podington Bear, used under a creative commons license.
Episode 12: June 2017
In this month's edition, James Bull talks to Sarah Glenister of the Institute of Employment Rights about their policy paper 'A manifesto for Labour Law', which informed the influential 2017 Labour Party manifesto.
Resources: A manifesto for Labour Law | Institute for Employment Rights | Labour Party Manifesto
Episode 11: May 2017
We report from the Manchester Mayoral Hustings organised by CitizensUK on May 1st, where UNISON challenged mayoral candidates on their commitment to social care, and James Bull speaks to CitizensUK's Furquan Naeem about how the organisation can help empower communities and workers around areas of common concern. Music by Podington Bear used under a creative commons license.
Resources: UNISON Social Care Campaign | Citizens UK
Episode 10: April 2017
In our April episode, we speak to a group of teaching assistants from Derby who have been involved in an inspirational campaign to challenge a 25% wage cut, and interview author and documentary filmmaker Sarah Boston about her experience of battling sexism and building power for women in trade unions during the 1970s. Music by Podington Bear used under a creative commons license.
Resources: Guardian article on Derby Teaching Assistants dispute | Women Workers & The Trade Unions
Episode 9: January 2017
In our first episode of 2017, James Bull speaks to Neil Todd of Thompsons Solicitors about the implications of the new measures brought into law by the Trade Union Act 2016, which are due to come into force in March, and Kevin Lucas visits picket lines in Copeland where council workers are taking action against cuts to services and jobs.
Resources: Thompsons Solicitors | Copeland Strike Press Release
Episode 8: December 2016
In our December 2016 edition, we speak to Nigel Flanagan of UNI Global Union about power mapping and how it can help inform our campaigns to drive up working practices around the world, and Julie Finnegan of UNISON's Oldham Local Government Branch describes how UNISON members are fighting back against threats to their terms and conditions.
Resources: UNI Global Union | UNISON Oldham Local Government Branch
Episode 7: November 2016
This month, we delve into the murky world of union busting and find out how to spot hostile or surreptitious HR tactics aimed at undermining workers organising in an independent union, and how to spot them. We also interview TUC National Organiser Carl Roper at this year's TUC 'Building Stronger Unions' Organising Convention in Southport.
Resources: Example 'Union Busting' video by Walmart | Confessions of a Union Buster (video) | Logan Report
Episode 6: October 2016
In this special social care edition of our monthly podcast, we take an in depth look at UNISON's ambitious new social care campaign, which aims to improve standards in the sector and tackle the mistreatment of workers providing vital support to people in our communities.
Resources: UNISON Ethical Care Charter | Sevacare campaign | Sevacare Case Article
Episode 5: September 2016
In this September 2016 edition of Organising to Win, Kevin Lucas speaks to Louise Chinnery and Dr. Richard Saundry about how we can best recruit and develop new activists, and Peter Urwin interviews homecare worker Judith Montgomery, who UNISON helped win a substantial payout after her employer failed to pay her the minimum wage.
Resources: UNISON Ethical Care Charter | Care worker awarded more than £3,000 for withheld travel time payments highlights 'endemic' failings in sector
Episode 4: August 2016
This month, we speak to Irish trade unionist Ethel Buckley about effective ways to engage communities in trade union campaigns, and interview a group of UNISON activists from Calderstones Hospital about how they built the union in their workplace into a force that has won incredible improvements in terms and conditions for members. Music by Podington Bear, used under a creative commons license.
Episode 3: July 2016
In this month's episode, we speak to american trade unionist and academic Jane McAlevey, author of 'Raising Expectations and Raising Hell: My Decade Fighting for the Labour Movement', and find out how a group of UNISON NW activists won the campaign to bring privatised ambulance services back into the National Health Service, increasing trade union density at the same time.
Episode 3 Resources: Jane McAlevey Website | NW Ambulance Branch Website
Episode 2: June 2016
Episode 2 Resources: Trade Union Act 2016 Guide
Episode 1: April/May 2016:
Episode 1 Resources: Skills for Strength Downloads
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